تَرَكتُ الخُمورَ لأَربابِها

وَاقبلتُ أَشرَبُ ماءً قُراحا

I left wines to their owners

I have left wine to its devotees,

And came to drink fresh water

And turned to drinking pure water.

وَقَد كُنتُ حيناً بِها مُغرَماً

كحبّ الغلامِ الفَتاةَ الرَداحا

I was once enamored with them

Though for a time I was infatuated with it,

Like a boy's love for a flirtatious girl

Like a young boy's love for a voluptuous girl.

فَلَم يَبقَ في الصَدرِ مِن حبّها

سِوى أَن إِذا ذُكِرت قُلتُ آحا

Nothing of that love remains in my chest

So nothing remains in my chest of love for it,

Except sometimes I sigh when it is mentioned

Except that when it is mentioned, I sigh, "Ah!"

وَما كانَ تَركي لَها أَنَّني

يَخافُ نَديمي عَليَّ اِفتِضاحا

It wasn't fear of scandal from my friend

And my abandoning it was not because

That made me leave it

My drinking companion feared disgrace for me,

وَلَكِنَّ قَولي لَهُ مَرحَباً

وَأَهلاً مَع السَهلِ واِنعِم صَباحا

Rather I say to it “Hello!”

But rather, my saying to him: "Welcome,

“Welcome!” along with ease and a good morning

You are among family, be at ease, and a good morning."